Who makes Arcoaire furnaces and air conditioners?
Arcoaire is one of seven brands built by International Comfort Products, the Carrier Global division that also makes Tempstar, Heil, Comfortmaker, Day & Night, KeepRite and AirQuest. ICP describes Arcoaire as "the tough HVAC brand" meant for "enduring, rugged performance," and Arcoaire's own website says the brand is backed by Carrier. As of 2026 the footer on every page still reads "A Carrier Company."
Its closest twin is Tempstar. The two share furnace model numbers, tier names and parts, so if you've read our Tempstar service page, the hardware story is the same. Day & Night, Heil and Comfortmaker use a G at the front of the same furnaces where Arcoaire and Tempstar use an F.
Decoding an Arcoaire model number
Arcoaire's model numbers follow a pattern you can read off the rating plate before anyone opens a panel. It tells us which parts to bring.
| Where to look | What it means | Arcoaire examples |
|---|---|---|
| First letter of a furnace | F for Ion and QuietComfort, N for Performance | F97CTN, F96VTN, N92MSN |
| The two digits | Efficiency class, not an exact rating | F97CTN is listed at up to 96.7% AFUE |
| Fourth character of a furnace | S single-stage, T two-stage, M modulating | F95CSU, F97CTN, F97CMN |
| Outdoor units | The letter after the 5: A for air conditioner, H for heat pump. The last letter: S single-stage, T two-stage, V variable-speed | H5A1V, H5H6S |
An 80 in the model number means a mid-efficiency furnace that vents into a metal flue or chimney liner. A 92 through 97 is a condensing furnace with PVC vent pipes and a condensate drain, and that difference decides what we check first on a winter lockout.
What does Arcoaire mean when it calls its equipment tough?
Arcoaire backs the tough label with a testing page. It says its psychrometric room swings air conditioners and heat pumps from 20 degrees below zero to over 120 degrees to thermally shock them, that it runs furnaces and fans non-stop to simulate more than 20 years of use in a single year, and that its test stations install furnaces upflow, downflow and horizontal. Every unit is run-tested before it ships.
That's good engineering, but testing can't fix an install. The winter failures we see on condensing furnaces here, Arcoaire included, usually start outside the cabinet. A condensing furnace laid on its side in a crawl space or attic needs its condensate trap and drain protected from freezing, or the pressure switch shuts it down on the first -20°F night. A vent terminal that sits low on the side of the house gets buried in drifted snow. A filter nobody changed trips the high limit. Our post on a frozen furnace condensate line covers what you can safely check before you call.
What refrigerant do new Arcoaire systems use?
Residential air conditioners and heat pumps made from 2025 on use lower-GWP refrigerants, and Arcoaire moved to R-454B. It says R-454B has a global warming potential of 466, a 75% reduction from R-410A. R-454B is classed A2L, which means mildly flammable, so Arcoaire builds a dissipation system into every R-454B product: a leak detector that switches on a unit fan, plus a dissipation board.
For repairs that adds a step. If a newer Arcoaire won't cool and the outdoor unit looks fine, we check the leak detector and its wiring before assuming a failed board, and we use gauges and recovery equipment rated for A2L refrigerants. Older Arcoaire systems on R-410A are not affected: they can still be repaired and recharged, and R-410A equipment built before 2025 can still be installed. Our AC repair page explains how we find leaks instead of topping off refrigerant every summer.
Replacing an Arcoaire, and booking
Register new Arcoaire equipment within 90 days of installation. That gets the original owner a 10-year parts limited warranty; miss the window and the term is 5 years. The No Hassle Replacement coverage applies to Arcoaire's premium products.
When an Arcoaire is past saving, we quote the replacement from a Manual J load calculation, not the old nameplate. Installed furnaces run $4,500–$9,500 and central AC $5,200–$9,800, and installs carry our 2-year labor warranty on top of the manufacturer's parts warranty. Our guide to furnace replacement cost in Minnesota explains what moves a quote within that range.
Call 612-429-3465 from 7am to 9pm, seven days a week. No-heat calls get priority. A service call is a $79 trip charge, waived when you approve the repair, and the price is written and flat before any work starts.
Arcoaire questions
Is Arcoaire the same as Tempstar?
Close to it. Both are built by International Comfort Products, Carrier's ICP division, and Arcoaire's furnace model numbers match Tempstar's: F97CTN, F96VTN, N92MSN and the rest. The tier names match too: Ion, QuietComfort and Performance. The badge and the contractors who sell it differ. For repairs, a part listed for your model number fits whichever of the two names is on the door.
Is Arcoaire a good brand?
It's sound, mid-priced equipment from Carrier's ICP division, and Arcoaire says every unit is run-tested before it leaves the factory. The bigger factor is the install: correct sizing, venting, condensate routing and refrigerant charge decide how long any furnace or air conditioner lasts. If you're comparing quotes, compare the installer and the model tier, not only the badge.
Why did Arcoaire switch to R-454B refrigerant?
Federal rules require residential air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured from 2025 on to use lower-GWP refrigerants. Arcoaire chose R-454B, which it says has a GWP of 466, about 75% lower than R-410A. R-454B is classed A2L, mildly flammable, so Arcoaire builds a leak detector and dissipation board into those systems. Older R-410A Arcoaire systems can still be repaired and recharged.
How long do I have to register a new Arcoaire?
Ninety days from installation. Registered equipment gets a 10-year parts limited warranty for the original owner; if it isn't registered in time, the term is 5 years. Arcoaire's No Hassle Replacement coverage, which replaces the whole unit if the compressor, coil or heat exchanger fails, applies to its premium products. Keep the install paperwork with the registration confirmation.
Sources
- Arcoaire official site arcoaire.com